“He reminds me very much of David Ginola and if he comes close to being half as good, then Newcastle have got themselves an exceptional player”

John Beresford

"I'm sure the fans will be happy," said Beresford after Cabella became the club's costliest-ever import.

"They were crying out for someone with flair and creativity last season and he'll certainly provide that.

"He reminds me very much of David Ginola and if he comes close to being half as good, then Newcastle have got themselves an exceptional player.

"But where there are plenty of positives, you'll always find negatives.

"With Ginola, there were games, especially away from home, when we had to carry him. It's well documented he didn't track back too much.

"Cabella will create plenty of chances but he could make life tough for the poor full-back behind him.

"It's going to be quite a shock to the system for whoever plays behind him because in the past, they've always had the likes of Gouffran and Gutierrez, midfielders who will run their socks off and do their fair share of the donkey work.

"You won't be getting that here but I always said to David 'so long as you win us the match, I'm not too bothered about you helping us out at the back' and to be fair, he often did.

"Let's hope it's the same with Cabella."

The player makes no secret of the fact he wants to emulate his fellow Frenchman.

He said: "I remember David Ginola and Laurent Robert and I am looking forward to doing what they did for Newcastle and becoming one of the greats.

"Newcastle is a well known, very good club and I am looking to improve while I am here."

Pardew will today look to complete his fifth summer signing with Holland defender Daryl Janmaat flying in for his medical after the clubs agreed a £6m fee.

He had been chasing Cabella ever since Yohan Cabaye left in January and yesterday, bizarrely, he paid tribute to himself after the Corsican put pen to paper on a six-year deal.

"He is a player who has been on our radar for a while and he is a marquee signing for us," said Pardew.

"A lot of work has gone into his signing and I'd like to pay tribute to my staff in particular Graham Carr and myself, Lee (Charnley), Mike (Ashley) and everyone on the board."

Newcastle face Oldham tonight before flying out to New Zealand for a pre-season tour.

Outcasts Hatem Ben Arfa and Sylvain Marveaux will not be involved and are expected to leave before the new season.